Welcome to the intersection of law and life sciences. I’m Coen ten Thije Boonkkamp, and this is where we’ll explore the role of legal in the success of life science projects.
Picture this: You’re in the midst of negotiating a contract for a groundbreaking medicine. The stakes are high, the science is complex, and the legal details are, well, detailed. Now, imagine that someone close to you is affected by the very disease this medicine targets. Suddenly, the impact of your work becomes crystal clear.
That’s not just a hypothetical—it’s a moment from my career that crystallized why I do what I do. It’s why I’m here, writing this blog, and why you’re here, reading it.
A Bit About Me Throughout my career, I’ve had the chance to work with all kinds of innovators: from university medical centers to big companies, from small startups to growing businesses. What brings them all together is a shared goal to make the world a better place.
These aren’t just clients. They’re forward-thinkers, researchers, and pioneers who inspire me every day. Their dedication to improving the world drives my own desire to contribute to their important work.
My work combines life sciences law and coding. I bring legal expertise, but that’s just the start. This website? I built it myself. This mix of legal knowledge and tech skills lets me tackle problems from different angles, much like how you approach your research.
It’s here, where law, life sciences, and technology come together, that exciting things happen. And it’s exactly here that I’ve decided to focus my work. Interested in how legal expertise can boost your life sciences project? Let’s explore that together.
Let’s address a common challenge in life sciences: Legal support is often perceived as a hurdle rather than an asset. Many researchers expect delays and complications when dealing with legal matters. Given the complex nature of life science projects and the resource constraints many legal teams face, these expectations are sometimes understandable.
Important Legal departments work tirelessly to support numerous projects, often with limited resources. They balance compliance, intellectual property protection, and collaboration facilitation while meeting urgent research needs and project deadlines.
But what if we could shift this perception? Navigating the life sciences landscape requires balancing innovation, compliance, and strategic thinking. With this in mind, legal expertise becomes more than just a necessary step – it can be a driver of success. Thoughtful legal support can pave the way for smoother collaborations, stronger IP protection, and more robust project structures.
This blog aims to explore how legal teams add value, and how researchers can leverage legal to drive projects forward. It’s about turning what’s often seen as a bottleneck into a catalyst for success.
My goal? To share my views and insights on how we handle legal support in life sciences. With over five years of experience as independent legal counsel in Dutch university medical centers and partnerships at national, European, and global levels, I’ve gained a unique perspective on how legal know-how can help move projects forward.
I specialize in:
Collaborations and services on national, EU, and global scales
Grant agreements and consortium contracts
Specialized areas like induced pluripotent stem cells, advanced therapy medicinal products, privacy, and intellectual property
State aid considerations
Data and material transfers, including data repositories and biobanking
But more than that, I’m here to explore how legal and science can work together to achieve better results.
In the posts to come, we’ll dive deep into:
Life science project fundamentals: transparency, compliance, intellectual property, and dissemination.
Advanced topics to unlock success for your projects: project structures and collaboration options.
Niche aspects that have a large impact: state aid and procurement.
We’ll explore these topics with the same rigor you apply to your research, but with a focus on practical, actionable insights. Whether you’re dealing with Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs), Data Transfer Agreements (DTAs), setting up consortia, or navigating complex collaborations, I aim to provide perspectives that could make legal support more valuable in your work.
This blog isn’t just about sharing my insights—it’s about starting a dialogue. I’m eager to hear about your experiences and challenges at the intersection of law and life sciences.
What obstacles do you face in your day-to-day work? Are there specific legal issues you’d like to see explored in depth? Or perhaps you have a success story to share about how legal support has propelled a project forward? Let me know! Your input helps me shape future blog posts and ensures we’re discussing the most relevant and pressing issues.
Tip Follow me on Twitter/X, send me an email, or raise the topic on LinkedIn.
I’m excited to start this journey with you. If you’re interested in exploring how legal expertise can help life science projects, subscribe to my newsletter. Together, we’ll explore the fascinating world where law meets life sciences, and look at ways to turn legal support from a perceived obstacle into a valuable asset for your projects.
Welcome to the blog. Let’s explore how legal expertise can contribute to the world of life sciences.